Google’s latest proposals may end antitrust investigation, says EU

Google's latest proposed concessions may be enough to bring the three-year-long EU antitrust investigation into the company's search practices to a conclusion, according to a top official. The EU's investigation centers on claims that the search giant is blocking competitors, including Microsoft, from its search results.

"Now, with the significant improvements on the table, I think we have the possibility to work again and seek to find an effective solution based on a decision under Article 9 of the Antitrust Regulation," said Joaquin Almunia, vice president of the European Commission responsible for Competition Policy, in a speech.

"Although I cannot describe the details, I can tell you that the new proposal more appropriately addresses the need for any commitments to be able to cover future developments," he added.

He went on to say that one of the most significant improvements suggested by Google involved vertical search, which was the issue that drew the most criticism from complainants. The next step of the investigation will be for the EU to invite those who have taken issue with Google's search to provide their own feedback on the proposals. Almunia has expressed a hope that a settlement will soon be reached.

Google's latest proposals were submitted at the beginning of September in an attempt to reassure the European Commission—which is the EU's antitrust regulator—that it is taking its concerns seriously, and to avoid a $5 billion fine. This followed a previous round of proposals submitted in April, which were rejected two months later, after which Google was given one final chance.

"While competition online is thriving, we've made the difficult decision to agree to their requirements in the interests of reaching a settlement," Reuters reports Google's general counsel Kent Walker as saying. This suggests that while Google is attempting to comply with the EU in order to avoid the fine, it isn't thrilled about having to adjust its search practices in favor of its rivals.